ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Prime Minister's Office
Telephone Conversation between Prime Minister and the President of Ukraine
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, today, had a telephonic conversation with the President of Ukraine H.E. Mr. Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Prime Minister congratulated President Zelensky on his success in the Ukrainian Presidential elections and also extended felicitations for the victory of his ‘Servant of the People Party’ in the recently concluded Parliamentary elections.
President Zelensky congratulated the Prime Minister on assuming charge for a second term with a resounding mandate.
Referring to the friendly and cordial relations between India and Ukraine the Prime Minister noted the satisfactory pace of growth in bilateral trade relations. He underlined our long-standing cooperation with Ukraine in several other areas and emphasized that the presence of a large number of Indian students in various Universities of Ukraine further strengthens people-to-people links between the two countries. The boost to these ties and tourism from the direct air-link between Kyiv and Delhi since last year was also noted by the Prime Minister.
The two leaders reaffirmed their readiness to work together for further strengthening mutually beneficial bilateral relations.
Ministry of Finance
Quarterly Report on Public Debt Management for July-September 2022
The Budget Division, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, brings out the Quarterly Report on Public Debt Management for July-September 2022. Since April-June  2010-11, Public Debt Management Cell  of the Budget Division has been bringing out a quarterly report on debt management on a regular basis. The current report pertains to the quarter July-September .
During Q2 of FY23, the Central Government raised an amount worth ₹4,06,000 crore through dated securities, as against notified amount of ₹4,22,000 crore in the borrowing calendar, while repayments were at ₹92,371.15 crore. The weighted average yield of primary issuances hardened to 7.33 per cent in Q2 FY23 from 7.23 per cent in Q1 of FY23. The weighted average maturity of new issuances of dated securities was lower at 15.62 years in Q2 of FY23 as compared to 15.69 years in Q1 of FY23. During July-September 2022, the Central Government did not raise any amount through the Cash Management Bills. The Reserve Bank did not conduct Open Market operations for government securities during the quarter. The net daily average liquidity absorption by RBI under Liquidity Adjustment Facility  including Marginal Standing Facility and Special Liquidity Facility was at ₹1,28,323.37 crore during the quarter.
Total gross liabilities  of the Government, as per provisional data, increased to ₹1,47,19,572.2 crore at end-September 2022 from ₹1,45,72,956 crore at end-June 2022. This represented a quarter-on-quarter increase of 1.0 per cent in Q2 FY23. Public debt accounted for 89.1 per cent of total gross liabilities at end-September 2022 up from 88.3 per cent at end- June 2022. Nearly 29.6 per cent of the outstanding dated securities had a residual maturity of less than 5 years.
The yields on Government securities in secondary market hardened in short- end curve due to near-term inflation and liquidity concern though softening of yield was observed for the longer tenure securities during the second quarter of FY23. MPC decided to hike the policy repo rate by 100 bps, i.e., from 4.90% to 5.90% during Q2 FY 2023 largely with an intention to contain inflation.
In secondary market, trading activities were concentrated in 7-10 year maturity bucket during the quarter mainly because of more trading observed in 10 year benchmark security. Private Sector Banks emerged as dominant trading segment in secondary market during the quarter. On a net basis, foreign banks and primary dealers were net sellers while public sector banks, co-operative banks, FIs, insurance companies, mutual funds, private sector banks and ‘Others’ were net buyers in the secondary market. The ownership pattern of Central Government securities indicates that share of commercial banks stood at 38.3 per cent at end-September 2022 as against 38.04 per cent at end-June 2022.
Access the full report: Quarterly Report on Public Debt Management for July-September 2022
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Internal Financial Control Mechanism, effective financial and risk management an Internal Audit Wing has recently been created in Prasar Bharati with the approval of Prasar Bharati Board in its 169th Meeting.
In a view to streamline and strengthen the Internal Financial Control Mechanism, effective financial and risk management an Internal Audit Wing has recently been created in Prasar Bharati with the approval of Prasar Bharati Board in its 169th Meeting. The Prasar Bharati has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to strengthen the institutional mechanism governing the Internal Audit Practices in Government of India and a road map for modernization.
The first edition of the Internal Audit Manual-2022 of Prasar Bharati has been released by Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Shri Apurva Chandra, to provide guidance to all the officials of the newly created Internal Audit Wing  and all the affiliated field unit level officials of Prasar Bharati to enable them to achieve excellence in their official working. This Internal Audit Manual shall guide the various stakeholders for good governance and provide guiding tools and techniques to them.
This Internal Audit Manual has been prepared on the basis of the rules/orders/ instructions issued by the Government of India/Prasar Bharati from time to time keeping in mind that it does not override the original Acts/rules/statutory codes and relevant orders issued by the Government of India and instructions issued by Prasar Bharati.
In the release function of Internal Audit Manual of Prasar Bharati was held in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting under the chairmanship of Secretary, Shri Apurva Chandra, Additional Secretary Ms. Neerja Shekhar, AS&FA Shri Jayant Sinha, Joint Secretary  Shri C. Senthil Rajan, Member  Shri D.P.S. Negi, ADG Shri Anil Srivastava of Prasar Bharati and other officials from Prasar Bharati and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting were present.
Ministry of Railways
New Delhi Railway Station as World Class Station
Ministry of Railways have entrusted the work of redevelopment of New Delhi Railway station to Rail Land Development Authority  under Public Private Partnership  mode. The process for preparation of Detailed Project Report, Master plan and Bid documents has been initiated by RLDA. Station redevelopment projects at this scale in PPP mode are first of its kind and complex in nature and require detailed techno-financial feasibility studies and statutory clearances from urban/ local bodies etc. Therefore, no time-frame can be indicated at this stage.
This press release is based on information given by the Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Cochin Shipyard Limited signs contract for construction of Autonomous electric vessels for ASKO maritime AS, Norway
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya praises CSL for laying historic milestone in Shipbuilding Industry
Cochin Shipyard Limited , Kochi signed contracts for construction and supply of Two nos Autonomous Electric Ferry for ASKO Maritime AS, Norway with an option to build 2 more identical vessels.
Union Minister of State  Shri Mansukh Mandaviya praised the CSL for grabbing contract to build world's first fully automatic electric vessel for ASKO Maritime, Norway & laying historic milestone in Shipbuilding Industry. Shri Mandaviya said that CSL grabbed the contract by competing with various global shipyards and with its good credibility & history.
CSL is the largest commercial shipbuilder in India. The company clinched this prestigious export order from ASKO Maritime AS, the subsidiary group of Norges Gruppen ASA, one of the largest players in the Norwegian retail segment.
This Autonomous Electrical vessel project is an ambitious project in Norway partially funded by the Norwegian Government aimed at emission-free transport of goods across the Oslo fjord. These vessels will be managed by M/s. Massterly AS, the first company setup to take technical management and operate autonomous vessels, a joint venture between M/s. Kongsberg, the world leader in autonomous technology and M/s. Wilhelmsen, one of the largest Maritime shipping companies. Once in operation, this vessel will create a new bench mark for the merchant shipping world in the field of Autonomous Vessels with Zero Carbon Emission.
The 67 Mtr long vessels will initially be delivered as a Full-Electric Transport Ferry, powered by 1846 kWh capacity battery. After commissioning of autonomous equipment and field trials in Norway, it will operate as a fully autonomous ferry of ASKO that can transport 16 fully loaded Standard EU trailers in one go across the fjords. The Vessels are designed by Naval Dynamics Norway using Kongsberg Maritime systems, with detailed engineering to be carried out by CSL. They will be built under DNV GL Classification and flagged in Norway.
CSL won this export order after detailed evaluation of various global shipyards and based on its value proposition to the customer. CSL’s proven capability & track record to deliver world quality high-end vessels to prestigious clients in Western Europe also found favour with the Client. CSL holds this Contract, obtained within the current constraints posed by the pandemic, in high significance. CSL is already constructing 23 Hybrid Electric boats for the Kochi Water Metro.
This project is expected to catapult CSL into the league of premier Shipbuilding yards in the world capable of handling high tech vessel construction.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Creation of National Agriculture Disaster Management Scheme
Indian Council of Agricultural Research , Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India has launched a flagship network project “National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture ” aiming at strategic research on adaptation and mitigation, demonstration of technologies on farmers’ fields and creating awareness among farmers and other stakeholders. The following steps have been taken in the field of climate smart agriculture:
 Developed climate resilient varieties for different abiotic and biotic stresses in major crops. So far 8 climate resilient varieties have been released in rice, green gram, maize and lentil;
 Developed and popularized 65 location-specific climate resilient/smart technologies for wider adoption among the farming communities;
 Prepared 650 district agricultural contingency plans and sensitized State officials for preparedness through 54 State-level interface meetings;
 Developed, evaluated and commercialized implements  for small farm mechanization suiting to dryland ecologies;
 Climate smart technologies developed involving farmers in risk assessment and adaptation techniques in 151 clusters covering 446 villages, with a footprint of 2,13,421 households, on 2,35,874 hectares of land;
 Capacity building programs have been taken up involving 5.15 lakhs comprising researchers, farmers, entrepreneurs, line department officials, policy makers and NGOs in the field of climate resilient agriculture.
Further, the climate smart agriculture is promoted under the Central Sector Schemes of Pradhan Mantri Krishi SinchayeeYojna , Parmparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna , Soil Health Mission , National Bomboo Mission  and Sub Mission on Agro Forestry .
The Government of India has launched the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture , which is one of the eight Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change . NAPCC has identified the focus areas on Dryland agriculture, risk management, access to information and use of biotechnology under NMSA and are implemented in schemes of Rainfed Area Development, OnFarm Water Management, Soil Health Management and Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture: Monitoring, Modelling and Networking.
There is no proposal for creation of National Agriculture Disaster Management scheme to tackle the issues of sudden climatic changes and other issues which are becoming more frequent. However, every Ministry/Department is mandated to prepare a Disaster Management plan under Sections 36/37 of Disaster Management  Act, 2005. Accordingly, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has prepared a National Agriculture Disaster Management Plan  to include key aspects of Disaster Risk Reduction  that address climate change adaptation and sustainable development goals related to the agriculture sector.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves raising of four additional battalions of National Disaster Response Force
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given the approval for raising of four  additional battalions of National Disaster Response Force  to strengthen the India's disaster response set up at an estimated cost of Rs 637 crore.
Details:
-
Later these four battalions will be converted into NDRF battalions. Based on the vulnerability profile, these four battalions will be placed in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi National Capital Region.
Background:
NDRF is a specialized force, which has been created in the year 2006 for the purpose of specialist response during the natural and man-made disaster or threatening situation. At present there are 12 battalions in NDRF which are deployed strategically across the country to provide immediate response.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas celebrated with the theme “जन औषधि – सस्ती भी अच्छी भी” across the country
More than 34 Pratigya Yatras conducted across country; Out of which 8 Yatras led by Members of Parliament on day one across the country
More than 5,000 citizens including Doctors took pledge to use generic medicines on MyGov platform
Programme steps into the second day of celebration by Jan Aushadhi Pratigya Yatra on 2nd March across the country
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare  in collaboration with Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India , the implementing agency of PMBJP and States and Union Territories is celebrating 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023 under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana . The celebrations are being carried out with great enthusiasm and fervour across the country. The programme kick started with Jan Aushadhi Jan Chetna Abhiyan on 1st March across the country.
The second day of the celebration stands as Jan Aushadhi Pratigya Yatra. Many such Pad Yatras carried out with the message of quality and affordable medicines. These medicines are available at more than 9000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras, which have already taken place in major cities of the country.
Pad yatras were conducted to create a mass fervor among people. These pad yatras were attended by Jan Aushadhi Kendras, citizens, school children, etc. wearing the Jan Aushadhi T-shirts and Caps. In some states, the pad yatras are celebrated with traditional instruments like drum. The aim of such pad yatras is to ensure dissemination of knowledge about the PMBJP scheme to make easy accessibility of Jan Aushadhi generic medicines.
The Government has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras  to 10,000 by the end of December 2023.
Medicines available under PMBJP are priced 50%-90% less than that of branded prices. During the financial year , PMBJP has achieved sales of more than Rs. 1100 Crore in the current financial year which has further led to savings of approximately Rs. 6600 Cr. to the citizens.
Weeklong celebrations are scheduled by conducting various awareness programme for women, senior citizens, children and for engagement of more than 9000 Kendras, Stakeholders, Jan Aushadhi Mitras, doctors, and general public.
Department of Atomic Energy
Proper Safety Apparatus in Nuclear Power Plants
Highest priority is accorded to safety in all aspects of nuclear power viz. siting, design, construction, commissioning, and operation. Nuclear power plants are designed adopting safety principles of redundancy, diversity and provided fail-safe design features following a defence in depth approach. This ensures that there are multiple barriers between the source of radioactivity and the environment.
The operations are performed adopting well laid out procedures by highly qualified, trained and licensed personnel. Appropriate Personal Protection Equipments and monitoring aids are provided to all the personnel working in the nuclear power plants.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State  Development of North-Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in RajyaSabha today.
Ministry of Coal
Commercial Coal Mining
Methodology for auction of coal and lignite mines/blocks for sale of coal/lignite on revenue sharing basis was issued on 28.05.2020. Twenty coal mines have been successfully auctioned for sale of coal. Further, 67 coal mines have been offered in the current, ongoing tranche of auction for sale of coal.
Auction of coal mines for sale of coal would create a market place for coal with multiple producers to drive competition and adopt best practices in mining as well as environment management. Auction of coal mines for sale of coal in a transparent manner is expected to encourage transparent pricing of coal, based on market forces. It would make maximum coal available in the market at the earliest.
Number of operational coal mines of South Eastern Coalfields Limited  as on 01.04.2021 is 67. Details of production and supply of coal by SECL during the last three years is tabulated below:
|
|
Year
|
|
Coal Production 
|
|
Coal Supply 
|
|
2018-19
|
|
157.35
|
|
156.03
|
|
2019-20
|
|
150.55
|
|
141.94
|
|
2020-21
|
|
150.61|
|
138.78Provisional figure
This information was given by the Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Finance
India-UK hold Financial Market dialogue via virtual mode
India and the United Kingdom  held the inaugural meeting of the India-UK Financial Markets Dialogue  virtually late evening yesterday. The Dialogue was established at the 10th Economic and Financial Dialogue  in October 2020 to deepen bilateral ties in the financial sector.
The Dialogue was led by senior officials from the Indian side by the Ministry of Finance and from UK, Her Majesty’s Treasury, with participation from Indian and UK independent regulatory agencies, including the Reserve Bank of India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, International Financial Services Centre Authority, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, the Bank of England, and the Financial Conduct Authority.
Discussions during the Dialogue were focused on four themes:
- GIFT  City, India’s flagship international financial centre,
- banking and payments,
- insurance, and
- capital markets
Following the government-to-government discussion on these issues, private sector partners were invited to the discussion. The City of London Corporation’s Capital Markets Working Group presented their work on the Indian corporate bond market, and the India-UK Financial Partnership presented their recommendations on the UK-India financial services relationship, particularly on development of GIFT City as global services hub.
As two services driven economies, both sides agreed that there is significant scope for strengthening the financial services cooperation between India and the UK. They also concurred to continue to engage bilaterally on these areas in the coming months, in the run up to the next EFD and the beginning of negotiations for a future India-UK FTA, both expected to take place later this year.
Ministry of Railways
Shri Piyush Goyal announces “South Coast Railway ” a new Zone of Indian Railways
As per item 8 of Schedule 13  of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, Indian Railways was required to examine establishing a new railway zone in the successor State of Andhra Pradesh. The matter has been examined in detail in consultation with stake holders and it has been decided to go ahead with creation of a new zone with headquarter at Visakhapatnam. The new zone named “South Coast Railway ”, will comprise of existing Guntakal, Guntur and Vijayawada divisions. Waltair division shall be split into two parts. One part of Waltair division will be incorporated in the new zone i.e. in South Coast Railway and will be merged with the neighbouring Vijaywada division. Remaining portion of Waltair division shall be converted into a new division with headquarter at Rayagada under East Coast Railway . South Central Railway will comprise of Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Nanded divisions.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Government measures increase FDI inflows in the country;
India Attracts total FDI inflow of US$ 72.12 billion during April, 2020 to January, 2021;
Computer Software & Hardware emerged as top sector with 45.81% of total FDI Equity inflow
Japan leads the list of Investor countries with 29.09% of the total FDI Equity inflows during January, 2021
The Measures taken by the Government on the fronts of FDI policy reforms, investment facilitation and ease of doing business have resulted in increased FDI inflows into the country as India has attracted total FDI inflow of US$ 72.12 billion during April to January, 2021. It is the highest ever for the first ten months of a financial year and 15% higher as compared to the first ten months of 2019-20 .
The trends show that the FDI equity inflow grew by 28% in the first ten months of F.Y. 2020-21  compared to the year ago period .In terms of top investor countries, ‘Singapore’ is at the apex with 30.28% of the total FDI Equity inflow followed by U.S.A  and UAE  for the first ten months of the current financial year 2020-21.
Japan has been leading the list of investor countries to invest in India with 29.09% of the total FDI Equity inflows during January, 2021, followed by Singapore  and the U.S.A. .
The Computer Software & Hardware has emerged as the top sector during the first ten months of F.Y. 2020-21 with 45.81% of the total FDI Equity inflow followed by Construction  Activities  and Services Sector  respectively.
As per the trends shown during the month of January, 2021, the consultancy services emerged as the top sector with 21.80% of the total FDI Equity inflow followed by Computer Software & Hardware  and Service Sector .
These trends in India’s Foreign Direct Investment are an endorsement of its status as a preferred investment destination amongst global investors
Ministry of Railways
Production Units of Indian Railways asked to explore possibilities to manufacture essential medical items, in case of need
In the wake of pandemic COVID-19, Ministry of Railways, in consultation with Production Units & Zonal Railway workshops, has decided to use the manufacturing facilities of its Production Units like Chittaranjan Loco Works, Chittaranjan, Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, Diesel Loco Works, Varanasi, Rail Wheel Factory, Yelehanka to manufacture essential items which can be utilized for the treatment of affected people by this pandemic.
Railway Board has issued necessary instructions to the General Managers of these production units to explore the feasibility of manufacture of items like simple hospital beds, medical trolleys for hospitals and quarantine facilities, IV stands, stretchers, hospital footsteps, hospital bedside lockers, washbasins with stands, ventilators, PPEs like masks, sanitizers, water tanks etc.
Railway Board has entrusted the General Managers to explore the feasibility in consultation with Principal Chief Medical Director of the zone/production unit for manufacture of these items in large quantities as may be required at short notice.